On March 10, 2016, Governor Greg Abbott announced the Classroom Connectivity Initiative, a joint partnership between the Texas Education Agency, the regional education service centers and the non-profit EducationSuperHighway. The initiative is designed to increase access to affordable, high-speed broadband and Wi-Fi access for K–12 public schools in Texas. The Classroom Connectivity Initiative focuses on providing information and assistance to LEAs to optimize funding available through the E-rate program.

We work with your district in three areas:

Texas
State Matching Fund:

Authorized
by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) though the Second E-rate Modernization Order

Appropriated
by the 85th Texas
State Legislature in June 2017

Provides
$25 million of state funds for E-rate eligible Category 1 special construction
costs. Funding for this initiative expires on August 31, 2019.

State matching funds reduce the local funding share
for E-rate approved Category 1 special construction projects by
providing a dollar-for-dollar match. Therefore, if Texas provides $25 million,
the FCC will provide $25 million.

LEAs
with an E-rate discount of 80% to 90% can have their E-rate approved Category 1 special construction project fully funded.

LEAs
with an E-rate discount rate less than 80% can receive an additional 20% of
their approved project costs.

Initiative Partners:

Many Education Service Centers (ESC) assist districts in the E-rate process. This may include assisting
with filing for E-rate funding or the creation of consortiums and consortium
applications to take advantage of economies of scale.

TEA has partnered with EducationSuperHighway to provide experts with
network technology and network procurement skills. The team can support all
aspects of your upgrade process. Our partners can assist with research on
potential network upgrade options, contact service providers, and provide RFP/
Form 470 guideline assistance for E-rate and state match applications. All assistance through the Classroom
Connectivity Initiative is provided free of charge.

EducationSuperHighway's Compare and
Connect K-12 tool allows districts to maximize their budgets by
comparing prices with nearby school districts.